HP Inc reiterated on Nov 24 its rejection of Xerox Corp’s US$33.5 bil cash-and-stock offer for the company, adding that the proposal “significantly undervalues HP”.
The personal computer maker said it was open to exploring its own bid for the US printer maker. Xerox had offered HP shareholders US$22 per share, involving US$17 in cash and 0.137 Xerox share for each HP share, according to a Nov 5 letter.
“We reiterate that we reject Xerox’s proposal as it significantly undervalues HP,” HP said in a letter to Xerox made public on Nov 24.
“There continues to be uncertainty regarding Xerox’s ability to raise the cash portion of the proposed consideration and concerns regarding the prudence of the resulting outsized debt burden on the value of the combined company’s stock even if the financing were obtained,” the letter added.
HP also said it was concerned that Xerox’s exit from Fujifilm’s joint venture earlier this month left a “sizeable strategic hole in Xerox’s portfolio”.
Xerox threatened on Nov 21 to take its US$33.5 bil buyout bid for HP hostile, if the company did not agree to a “friendly” discussion and open its books before Nov 25. – Reuters
